Elate notched her second Graded Stakes win of the season with a dominating performance in the G2 Delaware Handicap 13 July 2019.
Ridden confidently by jockey Jose Ortiz, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro was settled in fifth through the early stages of the ten-furlong contest. Elate launched her move on the far turn, swinging four-wide overtaking leader Gotham Gala. She put away second-choice Escape Clause at the top of the lane and pulled away to win by four-and-a-half lengths while being geared down nearing the wire.
With the victory Elate became just the seventh two-time winner of the Delaware Handicap, joining such standouts like Champion Royal Delta.
Elate was bred in Kentucky by her owners, Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider. She is out of the Stakes-winning Distorted Humor mare Cheery, a daughter of G2 winner and G1-placed Yell, and a half to G1 winner Eastern Echo and multiple Graded Stakes winner Roar.
Medaglia d'Oro is the sire of 30 Stakes performers in 2019 - seven Group or Graded winners - including Majestic Eagle, recent winner of the G3 American Stakes at Santa Anita and G1 Rosehill Guineas winner, Crown Prosecutor. With the 2019 sales season soon to get underway, it should be noted that Medaglia d'Oro was the sire of eight million-dollar yearlings last year. Watch for his first select yearlings selling at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga in August.
